UK Cost of Living 2026: Burnham Unveils Crackdown on ‘Rip-Off’ Practices to Save Consumers £400 Million
By ldadmin
August 10, 2026
Burnham Announces New Measures to Tackle Cost-of-Living Pressures
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a series of measures aimed at reducing household costs and tackling what he describes as unfair or misleading business practices.
The first wave of his government’s “everyday fixes” will target misleading discounts and difficult-to-cancel subscriptions, with the measures expected to save consumers an estimated £400 million a year.
Writing for The Guardian, Burnham said the government would intervene wherever it could to remove unnecessary costs and make everyday transactions fairer for consumers.
“We won’t be able to fix all frustrations overnight. But where the government can save money for people, remove an unnecessary obstacle or make something work better, we should and we will.”
The measures form part of a wider government effort to make the cost of living a central priority.
Crackdown on Misleading Discounts
One of the government’s key proposals is to restrict pricing practices that can make discounts appear more attractive than they really are.
The proposed rules would target practices such as:
- Artificially increasing prices before offering a discount.
- Using misleading “was” prices.
- Creating manufactured price reductions.
- Displaying misleading recommended retail prices.
Ministers are expected to discuss the specific practices covered by the proposed restrictions in the autumn before introducing the measures through secondary legislation.
The government hopes the changes can be implemented as quickly as possible without requiring a lengthy parliamentary process.
The reforms are intended to prevent retailers from raising the price of a product shortly before applying a discount, creating the impression that customers are receiving a larger saving.
Burnham said consumers should be able to trust that advertised discounts represent genuine savings, particularly at a time when household budgets remain under pressure.
Tougher Rules on Unwanted Subscriptions
The government is also bringing forward measures designed to tackle subscription traps.
The planned rules, originally expected next spring, are now being brought forward to January.
Under the proposals, businesses would be required to:
- Provide clearer information when customers sign up.
- Remind customers regularly about their active subscriptions.
- Make it easier for customers to cancel.
- Provide a 14-day cooling-off period when a free or discounted trial ends or when a longer-term contract renews.
Government estimates suggest that the average person has around three subscriptions, spending approximately £500 a year on them.
Across the UK, there are reportedly more than 155 million active subscriptions, with around £1.6 billion a year spent on unwanted subscriptions.
Ministers estimate that consumers could save an average of £14 a month for every unwanted subscription they successfully cancel early.
Burnham criticised businesses that make signing up easy but create unnecessary barriers when customers try to leave.
Focus on Household Finances
The effectiveness of the new measures will ultimately depend on whether consumers actually feel the savings in their everyday lives.
While the proposals focus on relatively small consumer issues, the government hopes that tackling these costs will provide households with more financial breathing room at a time when many people continue to face cost-of-living pressures.
Burnham has also promised broader measures aimed at making life “easier and fairer” over the longer term, although Downing Street has not yet provided full details of those plans.
He has argued that even seemingly minor financial frustrations can have a significant effect on household confidence.
“Big, small, whatever size, if it is a problem for you, it is a problem for us.”
The government says its approach is based on identifying everyday problems that make life unnecessarily difficult and finding practical ways to address them.
Citizens Advice Welcomes the Measures
Citizens Advice has welcomed the proposed consumer protections but warned that the measures should not be treated as the final solution to the wider cost-of-living crisis.
The organisation said the changes were a positive step but emphasised that further action would be needed to address broader financial pressures facing households.
Burnham’s UK Cost-of-Living Plans
Burnham is expected to spend the remainder of the summer travelling around Britain as part of an effort to reconnect the government with communities and listen directly to people’s concerns.
The tour will focus particularly on areas where Labour has experienced declining support.
Burnham said he would ask people what they want the government to do about the cost of living and emphasised the importance of listening to people experiencing financial pressures firsthand.
“If we truly want to find out what makes life difficult on a daily basis, we need to listen to those who are living it.”
It remains unclear whether the feedback gathered during the tour will directly influence the government’s next set of “everyday fixes”.
What the New Measures Could Mean for Consumers
The proposed changes could give UK consumers greater protection against misleading discounts and unwanted subscription charges.
For households already under financial pressure, even relatively small savings could make a difference when combined across multiple monthly expenses.
However, the government’s wider cost-of-living strategy is expected to determine whether these measures translate into meaningful long-term improvements in household finances.
For now, Burnham’s first “everyday fixes” signal a focus on tackling the everyday costs and consumer frustrations that many households encounter.
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